Preorder the No Return vinyl here: https://lepetitsignal.bandcamp.com/album/lps003-v-no-return
On a Monday or a Tuesday somewhere in 2012 a new friend called V asked me to play a gig with them on the Thursday of that week. With only two days to prepare I said “yes, of course, I would love to.”
V sent me a demo of the tracks we would play. Armed with a folder of drum machine samples, and a couple of VSTs poached from a friend, I was able to transport V’s punk palette into the synthwave era. The songs remain among the work I am most proud of. Having a limited set of sounds and no time to second guess any decision, the work feels integrated, raw and immediate. V’s voice and words are so honest, desolate and heart-breaking and it transports me back to a moment of both naiveté and rapid transformation in my own life: years of joy and uncertainty.
The gig was a hit. V and I returned to my bedroom studio on and off for the next month or so, re-recording her vocals and bass, and tweaking the arrangements. We released the album and despite my high hopes, the album slipped into obscurity.
Two summers ago, wandering through Greece, I got a call from V: Assaf Bombgard from the label Le Petit Signal wanted to put the album out on vinyl. I was giddy with excitement and returned to Berlin to dig out the old project files. I was conflicted: I did not want to lose of the original recordings, but ten years ago I tended over compress, and cut too much with eqs, and saturate the shit out of everything such that at certain moments the album tended towards the “harsh”. So very carefully, I made a new set of mixes, constantly referring back to the original recordings to ensure that the spirit was preserved while allowing the music to breathe a little more. As well, an expert remaster was completed by Mikey Young.
Now its for you to enjoy: a transmission from Berlin 10 years ago, a city in the dying embers of a post-war era that lasted more than 60 years, when there were more squats than start-ups; and know-nothing upstarts could sit in their rooms making music all day and night, for little to no money simply because they wanted to, because it helped them feel alive.
All songs written and performed by V
Except for Dawning Day, written by Adrienne Teicher
Synth Arrangements & Production by Adrienne Teicher
Remastered by Mikey Young
Cover Photograph by Jared O’Sullivan
Inlay Photograph by Paula Winkler
Layout by V & Assaf Bomgard